Burglary Suspects in Custody

LONGVIEW — Three suspects are in custody after a neighbor holds one at gunpoint. Kevin Bender, 22, Cleon Smith Jr., 21 and Christopher Lister, 19, all of Longview, were arrested Friday after officers responded to a “shots fired” call at 514 Level Street. When officers arrived, they found a citizen detaining Lister at gunpoint. The citizen told officers he had seen the trio burglarizing a neighbor’s house at 514 Level Street and attempted to stop them when two of the suspects fled in a vehicle. When Lister then exited the house with the victim’s property in-hand, the citizen fired a shot into the air and demanded Lister to get on the ground. Lister complied and was taken into custody by officers.

An officer located the suspect vehicle at 111 Brooks Street. Smith Jr. and Bender were located hiding inside the residence and were taken into custody. All three suspects were booked into the Gregg County Jail for burglary of a habitation.